WASHINGTON —
The United States must continue to work together with allies and partners to strengthen regional security and confront challenges, Navy Adm. John M. Richardson, the chief of naval operations, said at a naval conference in Colombia.

Senior ranking officers from the U.S. military and partner nations in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility embarked the Whidbey Island-Class Dock Landing Ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44) via CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter to observe the U.S. Navy's support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command (SPMAGTF-SC) in a humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HA/DR) mission rehearsal, July 20.

Because of an engagement program with U.S. Southern Command, the Guatemalan military had conducted a volcano-related humanitarian assistance exercise earlier in the year. Once they had started recovery efforts, the government of Guatemala turned to that engagement program and SOUTHCOM for assistance in building temporary shelters in Escuintla, Guatemala, for those who lost their homes to Fuego.

The U.S. Navy deployed USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1) in support of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2018 to the Caribbean, Central and South America to conduct subject matter expert exchanges and water well construction projects from July to October 2018.

Senior leaders from 17 countries in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and the United States participated in a Distinguished Visitor Program and Senior Leader Symposium as part of Fuerzas Comando July 23, 2018 at the Hilton, Panama City, Panama.

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas —
A 24-year tradition continued as 40 students from the Inter-American Air Forces Academy visited the 433rd Airlift Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland July 18 to learn about the C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft, the maintenance mission and how the Reserve Citizen Airmen maintainers keep their Air Force Reserve Command of C-5Ms battle operational.

PANAMA CITY, Panama —
Service members from 17 nations competing in Fuerzas Comando 2018 learned from each other, improved tactics and increased their special operations capabilities to confront common threats during a commando competition.